[10] As matters dealing with private international law most often fall within provincial jurisdiction, federal-provincial-territorial cooperation is essential to real progress in this area. Consultations with the legal and business community, as well as with other private groups, are useful where the work of IPLS relates so closely to their interests.

A. ADVISORY GROUP ON PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW

[11] The Advisory Group on Private International Law is composed of five provincial representatives (representing British Columbia, the Prairie Provinces, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces) and federal representatives from the Department of Justice and the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A private practitioner representing the International Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association also participates as an observer. The Group provides the Department with continuing advice on the provincial aspects of the private international law projects in which Canada is involved. The Group held a meeting in Ottawa in June 2007. The Group is generally referred to as the “Advisory Group” in this text.

B. FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL-TERRITORIAL COOPERATION

[12] In addition to federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) cooperation through the Advisory Group, the Department also communicates directly with provinces and territories authorities in order to obtain their official views on international instruments. These exchanges take place through written and oral communications among FPT authorities as well as with the presentation of reports to the Uniform Law Conference of Canada (ULCC) and to the Civil Justice Committee.

1. Uniform Law Conference of Canada (ULCC)

[13] Instituted in 1918 with a view to ensuring uniformity in provincial legislation, the ULCC today participates actively in the implementation of international conventions and other private international law instruments such as model laws. This year, the Department of Justice continued to participate in the ULCC’s activities. From the perspective of the Department of Justice, the ULCC constitutes the key mechanism for facilitating implementation of private international law instruments through the development of uniform implementing legislation.

2. Civil Justice Committee

[14] This committee was first established as an ad hoc committee of government officials in the late 1980s to assist in the preparation for and follow-up to the meetings of federal, provincial and territorial Deputy Ministers responsible for Justice matters. Its efforts in the adoption of implementing legislation recommended by the ULCC are greatly appreciated.

C. PRIVATE SECTOR

[15] The Department of Justice maintains contacts with the Canadian Bar Association (CBA) as well as with private sector groups.